Valve

ABSTRACT

A valve, particularly a radiator valve, has a housing and a valve seat provided in the housing. An inlet and an outlet are located at opposite sides of the valve seat in the housing and flow regulating means is provided, including a body having a sealing surface and being mounted for one movement relative to the valve seat to thereby preselect a desired maximum value of a flow aperture between the latter and the sealing surface, and being further mounted for another movement relative to the valve seat to thereby decrease the flow aperture between the valve seat and the sealing surface at the will of a user from the preselected maximum value towards zero value.

1 51 Apr. 25, 1972 United States Patent Meges VALVE [72] v Inventor:

2,414,908 l/l947 ....25l/333 Helmut Meges, Neheim-l-lusten, Germany VA 3 3 3 l 5 22 e b m a 0 3,168,283 2/1965 Metallwerke Nehelm Goeke & Co. KG, 3,195,552 7/ 1965 Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany r237 3/1966 Mar. 15, 1971 Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser.

917 Kunzer et al..... ....25l/2l4 Assignee:

[22] Filed:

Primary Examiner-M. Cary Nelson Assistant Examiner-David R. Matthews Attorney-Michael S. Striker [2!] Appl. No.:

No. 791,332, Jan. 15, 1969, ABSTRACT A valve, particularly a radiator valve, has a housing and a valve seat provided in the housing. An inlet and an outlet are located at opposite sides of the valve seat in the housing and flow regulating means is provided, including a body having a sealing surface and being mounted for one movement relative to the valve seat to thereby preselect a desired maximum value of a flow aperture between the latter and the sealing surface, and being further mounted for another movement relative to the valve seat to thereby decrease the flow aperture between the valve seat and the sealing surface at the will of a user from the preselected maximum value towards zero value.

7 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/1910 Davey...................,....

PATENTEDAPRZSIHYZ 3,658,291

sum 20F 2 Fig. 2

mu-dad IA-1 VALVE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to valves, and more particularly to the type of valves used in radiators and the like.

It is known that subsequent to installation of a heating system using radiators the flowregulating valves of the system are preadjusted'to balance the system. This means that the valves of the system are preset to a maximum flow value to obtain, in dependence upon the cross sectional configurations of the conduits used, the radiating surface of the radiator, the temperature and the How rate of the heating medium as well as other considerations and even heating of all radiators then the valves are fully opened. The purpose is to make it possible for the user to obtain even heat radiation from all radiators of the system when the setting of the valve or valves is changed.

In order to accomplish these purposes, the valves should be so constructed that regardless of extent of presetting which is effective when the system is balanced, regulation of the system by the user at a subsequent time will result in exactly proportional radiation of heat from all radiators and the space to be traversed by the valve body for this regulation, which might be designated the fineregulation as opposed to the presetting, will always be the same regardless of the presetting which was originally selected.

Valves for the general purposes here under discussion are of course well known. Thus, the valves are known wherein the extent of movement of the valve body and thereby regulatory effect obtained is decreased as the amount of presetting is increased. In other words, if such a valve is not preset, then the actuating member may undergo two full turns to change the position of the valve member during fine-adjustment from fully opened to fully closed, whereas if the maximum possible presetting is selected, the fine-adjustment may amount to only fractions of a single turn of the actuating member. This makes it particularly difficult for the average person to obtain precise setting of the heating system.

Other types of valves known for this purpose utilize two independently movable valve bodies one of which is used only for pre-setting purposes and the other of which is used only for fine-adjusting purposes. While these overcome the aforementioned disadvantages they present their own drawbacks in that they are relatively complicated and accordingly expensive.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art.

A more particular object of the present invention is to provide a valve of the type under discussion which permits, with a single valve body, any desired presetting while aflording the identical extent of fine-adjustment regardless of the presetting position selected.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide such a valve which is uncomplicated and therefore inexpensive to manufacture and to sell.

In pursuance of the above objects, and others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of my invention resides in the provision of a valve, particularly a valve for use with radiators and the like, which comprises a housing and an inlet and an outlet provided in the housing. A valve seat is provided in the housing intermediate the inlet and the outlet. I further provide flow regulating means including a body which is located in the housing and which has a sealing surface, this body being mounted for one movement relative to the valve seat in such a manner as to preselect a desired maximum value of a How aperture between the sealing surface and the valve seat, and being further mounted for another movement relative to the valve seat to thereby decrease the flow aperture between the valve seat and the sealing surface at the will of a The novel features which are considered as characteristic for .the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned elevational view illustrating one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing now the drawing in detail, and firstly the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, it will be seen that the valve housing is identified with reference numeral 1 and provided with an inlet 3 and an outlet 31: for a heating fluid. The inlet 3 and the outlet 3a communicate with one another and a cylindrical valve seat 2 is interposed between them, as illustrated. An annular groove 4 surrounds the valve seat 2 and an annular collar 5 provided on a cylindrical valve body 6, which latter is movable in direction towards and away from the valve seat 2, extends into the groove 4 to a greater or lesser degree, depending upon the extent to which the value body 6 approaches the valve seat 2. The collar 5 is provided with a sealing surface as shown and is at its underside which is adapted to extend into the groove 4 either inclined as illustrated, or otherwise profiled in such a manner as to obtain the most advantageous heating proportionality during fine-adjustment of the valve regardless of the particular pre setting which has been selected.

The lower end portion of the valve body 6, that is the end portion closest to the valve seat 2, carries a sealing disc or gasket 7 which is maintained in position by a washer 8 and a nut 9. Advantageously the disc 7 consists of heat-resistant synthetic plastic material although another material may also be used; in the closed position of the valve it will sealingly abut against the valve seat 2. The opposite end portion of the valve body 6 is of hexagonal cross sectional configuration, as indicated with reference numeral 11, and this end portion is located in a complementary hexagonal recess in the housing section 12 which extends into an opening in the valve housing l and is tumable therein and can be clamped therein against such turning movement at any desired angular position. The means for fixing the housing portion 12 in the housing 1 against turning is a screw 13 which is threaded into a corresponding interiorly flat bore provided in the housing 1, as illustrated.

The upper end portion of the valve body 6 is further provided with an axially extending bore which, because it is a conventional expedient, is not particularly identified with a reference numeral and into which an exteriorly threaded part of a spindle 15 is introduced. The conventional gland, whose components are identified with reference numerals 16, 17 and 18 and are believed to require no detailed discussion, serves to seal the entrance of the spindle 15 into the housing portion 12; the outer free end of the spindle 15 which is located exteriorly of the housing portion 12 carries a conventional knob 19, which, gripped by the fingers of a user, permits turning of the spindle 15 about its longitudinal axis.

To preset the valve in FIG. 1 to a desired maximum fiow aperture, the housing portion 12 and thereby the valve bodies 6 are turned with respect to the valve housing 1, and for this purpose engagement surfaces may be provided at the outside of the housing portion 12 which facilitate its gripping and turning with a tool such as a wrench. Suitable markings, such as the marking 22 provided on the housing portion 12, permit ready determination of the position of the valve body 6 with respect to the outlet 3a; in the illustrated embodiment the maximum possible pre-setting value of the flow aperture will user from the preselected maximum value towards zero value. be obtained if the marking 22 faces towards the outlet 3a.

Once this pre-setting is completed, the screw 13 is tightened and further turning of the housing portion 12 is prevented.

Fine-adjustment of the flow aperture, that is regulation of the fiow of fluid through the valve subsequent to the presetting value, is accomplished by turning of the knob 19. Because the spindle 15 mounted in the housing portion 12 without any possibility of axial movement, turning of this spindle 15 results in axial shifting of the valve body 6 with its hexagonal portion 11 in the complementarily configurated recess of the housing portion 12 in axial direction whereby the flow aperture is either decreased from the preselected maximum value to zero value, or increased from zero value towards the preselected maximum value, depending upon the direction of rotation of the knob 19.

The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements as in FIG. 1, is reminiscent from the one shown in FIG. 1. However, the disc 7 of FIG. 1 is replaced by a metallic sealing surface provided at the lower end of the valve body 6 and the screw 13 is replaced by a cap-nut 14 whose internal screw threads mesh with external screw threads provided on the housing 1. Additionally, the embodiment of FIG. 2 is provided in the outer surface of the housing portion 12 with a circumferential groove accommodating a sealing member here illustrated as an O-ring 23 which sealingly engages the housing 1 so as to prevent escape of heating medium through the gap existing between the wall of the housing 1 and the housing portion 12. When the cap-nut 14 is tightened, an exterior conical surface 24 of the housing portion 12 is in metal-to-metal sealing engagement with a sealing shoulder provided on the housing 1.

It will be appreciated that in both illustrated embodiments turning of the spindle results not only in a change in the position of the valve body 6, but also in a change of the preselected flow-aperture cross section so that the novel valve provides not only for proportionality during pre-setting but also for proportionality during fine-adjustment.

Evidently, various modifications are possible in the illustrated embodiments without departing from the scope or concept of the invention. Thus, it will be a rather simple matter for those skilled in the art to adapt the novel valve for thermostatic regulation. Also, the axial guidance for movement of the valve body 6 in the housing portion 12 can be obtained in other ways than the ones illustrated, which is also true of the means permitting turning movement and arresting of such turning movement of the housing portion 12 with respect to the housing 1 and the means reventing axial movement of the spindle 15 with respect to the housing portion 12. Further, the knob 19 may of course be replaced with a differently configurated actuating member, or with a differently operable actuating member such as a hydraulic, mechanic, electrical or thermostatic actuating member.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a valve for radiators and the like, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims:

1. A valve, particularly for use for radiators, and the like, comprising a valve housing having an interior chamber bounded by a circumferential wall and provided with two spaced opposite apertures, one of which is an inlet, a valve seat between said apertures, and an outlet in said circumferential wall between said valve seat and the other of said apertures; a movable valve head arranged in said interior chamber of said valve housing movable between a closed position engaging said valve seat and an open position spaced therefrom, said valve body including flow-restricting means the flow-restrictin action of which varies depending upon the angular position 0 said valve head relative to said valve seat;

moving means passing through said other aperture for moving said valve head between said closed and open positions thereof; and adjusting means mounted on said valve head so as to be non-rotatable but axially movable with respect thereto, said adjusting means being angularly adjustable with respect to said housing and permitting in each of the adjusted positions thereof movement of said valve head only in axial direction by said moving means so that for each of said angularly adjusted positions of said valve head a different fiow range is obtainable by moving the valve head axially between the closed and open positions thereof.

2. A valve as defined in claim 1, said valve seat including an annular wall surrounding a hole communicating with said inlet and said outlet, and an annular groove surrounding said annular wall; and wherein said flow-restricting means comprises an annular portion provided on said valve head and arranged to extend into said annular groove in response to movement of said valve head towards said closed position.

3. A valve as defined in claim 1, said adjusting means comprising an inner portion and an outer portion respectively located within and without said valve housing; and further comprising sealing means for preventing the escape of fluid between said housing means and said adjusting means.

4. A valve as defined in claim 3, wherein said sealing means comprises an O-ring of elastomeric material.

5. A valve as defined in claim 4, wherein said elastomeric material is rubber.

6. A valve as defined in claim 1, said adjusting means comprising a portion having a bore of polygonal cross-section and being turnably mounted in said housing; and said valve head having a section matingly guided in said bore for axial displacement therein between said open and closed positions, and four turning movement with but not relative to said adjusting means.

7. A valve as defined in claim 3, said adjusting means and said housing means having juxtaposed outer and inner surfaces, respectively, and one of said surfaces having a circumferential recess encircling said adjusting means and in which said sealing means is received in sealing engagement with both of said surfaces. 

1. A valve, particularly for use for radiators, and the like, comprising a valve housing having an interior chamber bounded by a circumferential wall and provided with two spaced opposite apertures, one of which is an inlet, a valve seat between said apertures, and an outlet in said circumferential wall between said valve seat and the other of said apertures; a movable valve head arranged in said interior chamber of said valve housing movable between a closed position engaging said valve seat and an open position spaced therefrom, said valve body including flowrestricting means the flow-restricting action of which varies depending upon the angular position of said valve head relative to said valve seat; moving means passing through said other aperture for moving said valve head between said closed and open positions thereof; and adjusting means mounted on said valve head so as to be non-rotatable but axially movable with respect thereto, said adjusting means being angularly adjustable with respect to said housing and permitting in each of the adjusted positions thereof movement of said valve head only in axial direction by said moving means so that for each of said angularly adjusted positions of said valve head a different flow range is obtainable by moving the valve head axially between the closed and open positions thereof.
 2. A valve as defined in claim 1, said valve seat including an annular wall surrounding a hole communicating with said inlet and said outlet, and an annular groove surrounding said annular wall; and wherein said flow-restricting means comprises an annular portion provided on said valve head and arranged to extend into said annular groove in response to movement of said valve head towards said closed position.
 3. A valve as defined in claim 1, said adjusting means comprising an inner portion and an outer portion respectively located within and without said valve housing; and further comprising sealing means for preventing the escape of fluid between said housing means and said adjusting means.
 4. A valve as defined in claim 3, wherein said sealing means comprises an O-ring of elastomeric material.
 5. A valve as defined in claim 4, wherein said elastomeric material is rubber.
 6. A valve as defined in claim 1, said adjusting means comprising a portion having a bore of polygonal cross-section and being turnably mounted in said housing; and said valve head having a section matingly guided in said bore for axial displacement therein between said open and closed positions, and four turning movement with but not relative to said adjusting means.
 7. A valve as defined in claim 3, said adjusting means and said housing means having juxtaposed outer and inner surfaces, respectively, and one of said surfaces having a circumferential recess encircling said adjuSting means and in which said sealing means is received in sealing engagement with both of said surfaces. 